(Boring) question about keeping EBM at room temp.

[ilovemyghds]

Very boring question sorry!

I am exclusively BFing my 6month old DD but am trying to get her used to the odd bottle. I will need to leave her with DH for a few hours at a time on a couple of occasions in the next month (and after that I suppose!) so am just 'practicing' with bottles. Have been expressing early in the day, and then giving her the bottle later on in the day (up to 12 hours later). I have just been keeping the bottle on me and so it has not been spending any time in the fridge, and I usually don't heat it either (unless it feels particularly cold). Bottle and pump have been properly washed and sterilised obviously! Is it OK to do this or should it always be in the fridge if not being used for a couple of hours?

I have frozen stocks in the freezer ready for the occasions I will be leaving her, which will be properly defrosted and heated so it's not really an issue for those days.

I think my HV told me, back then to do as you would with cows milk, but as I recall if dh was going out with dd he would take a cool,bag with the EBM, we are a little paranoid

Thanks - 6 hours it is then! I have been usually using it before that long anyway (and haven't been putting it in the fridge after having it out for that long). This issue never arose with DCs 1 & 2 as they had no problems with taking EBM from the bottle, so I never had to give it to them. I just stuck it in the fridge/freezer straight away with them, and left it for daddy to deal with! Will just have to work at persuading DC3 to drink it now!